Events

THIS TRIP IS FULL.  Full day, starting at 9 a.m. along the Choptank River in Cambridge. Waterfowl, overwintering songbirds, and raptors, plus optional late afternoon marsh watch. Brown-headed Nuthatch possible. Bring lunch and drinks. Limit: 12. For reservations (required) and more information, contact the LEADER: Mark England at englandmark@comcast.net or 240-308-4114.

All birders, but especially new birders, are welcome on this half-day trip, which will focus on the identification of ducks at these premier county spots for winter waterfowl. Meet at 8 a.m. at the Visitors Center to Black Hill Regional Park, and bring a spotting scope if you have one. Limit: 15. For reservations (required) and more information, contact the LEADER: Gerry Hawkins at maineusa@comcast.net or 571-277-8406 (cell).

Join us for a morning at and around Riley’s Lock where we will first spend some time scanning the river for waterfowl. After that we’ll head upstream on the towpath, checking the turning basin for any elusive waterfowl and then continue on looking for winter woodland birds. (Perhaps the Evening Grosbeaks will return?) Start at 8:30 a.m., and bring a scope if you have one. Limit: 8. For reservations (required) and more information, contact the LEADER: Scott Young at 202-313-1444.

THIS TRIP IS FULL. Bundle up for a 2 to 2½ hour LATE AFTERNOON search for wintering sparrows and raptors, including possible Northern Harriers and Short-eared Owls. Mostly open terrain with some ponds, which we will check if they are not frozen over. Reservations required at least a week ahead of the trip for names to be submitted to the county. Limit: 16. We will gather at 3:15 p.m. on the landfill entrance drive at 6001 Rt. 108, Laytonsville, Md. For reservations and more information, contact the LEADER: Mark England at 240-308-4114 or englandmark@comcast.net.

Two years of data collection are now complete for the Maryland & DC Breeding Bird Atlas 3 (BBA3). This five-year community science project is documenting the distribution, abundance, and timing of each bird species that breeds in Maryland or DC. When complete, the BBA3 dataset can be compared to similar past projects and will provide an unparalleled record of how local bird distributions have changed over the last 40 years. Atlas Coordinator Gabriel Foley will provide an overview of how the project collects data, an update on the current status, and discuss how you can get involved and submit your own observations.

We will bird the Ocean City inlet in the morning, looking for sea ducks, gulls, wintering shorebirds and anything else that might be around (hopefully Razorbill). After that, we will check a few local areas around OC and then, depending on what is being seen in the area, head further north, possibly to Indian River Inlet or a little further inland. We will start at 8 a.m. in the Ocean City Inlet parking lot, so either get up early or stay overnight in the area! Scopes would be useful. Trip is limited to 8. Possible additional birding on the way down Friday afternoon, including a stop by Salisbury landfill, depending on the weather and the leader’s availability. For reservations (required) and information, contact the LEADER: Clive Harris at clivegharris@yahoo.com.

THIS TRIP IS FULL. Joint trip with ANS. 3:00-5:30 pm. Bundle up for a 2 1/2 hour LATE AFTERNOON search for wintering sparrows and raptors, including possible Northern Harriers and Short-eared Owls. Mostly open terrain with some ponds, which we will check if they are not frozen over. Required carpooling to several stops inside will necessitate cracked windows for ventilation and masks to be worn while in cars. Reservations required at least a week ahead of the trip for names and phone numbers to be submitted to the county. Limit: 8 MBC members only for this trip. (Similar second trip on February 19.) Strong preference will be given to new birders and those that have never been to the Oaks Landfill. Meet at 3:00 p.m. on landfill entrance drive at 6001 Rt. 108, Laytonsville, Md. For reservations and more information, contact the LEADER: Mark England at 240-308-4114 (cell) or englandmark@comcast.net.